(Chicago) … The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC)—an independent organization solving our most pressing problems and creating a region that works for everyone—announced today the departure of Alden Loury, its prominent and oft-quoted Director of Research and Evaluation. Loury recently accepted a position at WBEZ as senior editor of its newly created race, class and communities desk, beginning July 23.
While at MPC, Loury helped expand the organization’s research agenda, and made significant contributions to The Cost of Segregation, groundbreaking analysis conducted in partnership with the Urban Institute to quantify the economic impact of our region’s economic and racial segregation. Loury also spearheaded MPC’s Data Points series, a frequent, in-depth data dive into new trends about the vitality of and threats to our region.
Loury has frequently discussed MPC’s work on WBEZ-FM, WVON-AM, WLUP-FM, WGN-AM, CLTV and the local affiliates for ABC, FOX and WGN. His research has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Magazine and The Chicago Defender.
“Alden has not only contributed significantly to the Metropolitan Planning Council’s impact,” said MarySue Barrett, President of MPC, “but he has elevated critical issues around race and equity in our region and across the nation. While I am heartbroken to see him go, we are thrilled that he will be deepening this work at WBEZ.”
With the release of the 2017 Cost of Segregation and the 2018 Roadmap to Chicago’s Equitable Future, MPC has become a bold voice in advancing equity and inclusion in our region, and has celebrated and amplified the work of expert partner organizations. With its newly created race, class and communities desk, WBEZ stands with organizations across the city and region who are challenging themselves to do much more to highlight and address racial inequities. MPC is also on this journey itself.
“The creation of WBEZ’s race, class and communities desk marks an important moment for Chicago and the future of journalism,” said Loury. “As a data journalist who’s spent the last two years looking closely at issues of racial equity and regional growth, I’m looking forward to helping WBEZ tell a cohesive story about the issues facing our region.”
MPC has embarked on a national search for its next Director of Research (see posting here).
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For more than 80 years, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has made the Chicago region a better place to live and work by partnering with businesses, communities and governments to address the area’s toughest planning and development challenges.
For more information, please contact MPC Communications Director Emily Blum at 312.863.6018 or eblum@metroplanning.org. Photos are available upon request.